A herd of hippo in Lake Urema. Photo credit - Olivier Grunewald | |
Eyes in the sky—counting Park wildlife. | |
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2024 aerial wildlife count reaches 110,513, setting an all-time record.
Gorongosa National Park’s 2024 aerial wildlife count confirmed the Park's restoration efforts are working. The survey, conducted October 8 - 22, documented 110,513 large animals, including 107,765 herbivores and 2,748 crocodiles—the highest numbers ever recorded. Highlights include the largest-ever count of elephants and no signs of illegal hunting or snared animals.
Buffalo, oribi, hippo, nyala, impala, and zebra populations have grown significantly, while waterbuck remains the most abundant antelope. Populations of common reedbuck, warthog, and sable antelope have declined. These trends reflect the dynamics of an open, natural system where rising predation and shifting grazing competition—both within and between species—shape population direction and growth.
Gorongosa National Park also continues to serve as a refuge for vulnerable species, including 274 Ground Hornbills and 73 active vulture nests, of which 29 belong to the critically endangered White-headed Vultures.
Link to the full report.
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More luxury, more wilderness, all Gorongosa. | |
Sundowners - Guests feel as free as the birds seated on the edge of expansive lake Urema. | |
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Launching in 2025: a new world-class camp, easy air access and more ways to extend your stay.
Building on a record-breaking 2024, Gorongosa Safaris has launched several major updates to its tourism offerings for 2025. Gorongosa Wild Camp is being transformed into the all-new Chicari Camp, a stunning, immersive seasonal safari experience set to open in May 2025. Alongside the flagship Muzimu Lodge, which offers a classic safari stay, Mount Gorongosa Community Camp, inspired and led by local people, will provide a novel way to connect with the park's unique biodiversity and community-driven conservation efforts.
Two enticing new offers are also available, giving guests more reasons to celebrate, extend their stay and explore Gorongosa's remarkable landscapes. Stay 7 (nights) Pay for 5; or Stay 5, Pay for 4 are available at Muzimu and Chicari camps between April 1 – November 30.
Gorongosa Safaris' partnership with the leading air charter company Safari Air includes a fixed schedule of connections to Beira international airport, providing guests with high quality, consistent and affordable air access to Gorongosa National Park. Safari Air also partners with Airlink, an award-winning airline with direct flights from Johannesburg to Beira. 2025 flight times and rates can be found here.
(Gorongosa Safaris has also partnered with Classic Portfolio, renowned for their exceptional levels of service and which now oversees sales, marketing, and reservations. Learn more.)
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Stays of five or more nights include a full day safari visit to Mt Gorongosa and the Pangolin Project wild feeding experience. | |
Secrets of the Rainy Season. | |
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Planthopper in nymph (left) and in juvenile (right) stages. ©Piotr Naskrecki
The planthopper—Nature’s master of disguise.
The transformation of the planthopper (Ityraea nigrocincta) is one of the more fascinating sights a visitor can see during Gorongosa’s rainy season. A true “Nature’s Trickster,” the insect mimics leaves and vegetation, and moves like a grasshopper.
Both nymphs (juveniles) and adults are highly social, clustering together on plant stems.
During the rainy season nymphs produce long, luxurious, white wax filaments, making the entire group look like an enormous shaggy caterpillar—or perhaps a very hairy snake.
As the dry season begins the adults emerge, turning into what looks like a large single flower or a cluster grouped together on a stem or branch. Their plant-like disguise is so convincing it even fooled botanists. In 1896, J.V. Gregory described his confusion: "I therefore pushed my stick through the bush to pull the flower towards me; as soon as my stick touched it, to my great surprise, the flowers and buds jumped off in all directions." (The Great Rift Valley, 1896).
Text and photos - Piotr Naskecki.
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Gorongosa Park’s predator comeback. | |
Two new leopards and seven hyenas join the park’s growing wildlife population. | |
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Gorongosa National Park’s predator population continued to grow in late 2024 with the successful addition of two leopards and seven spotted hyenas.
In November, the two leopards—a male and a female—were successfully relocated from Karingani Game Reserve to Gorongosa National Park, for a total of six released in the Park since 2020.
The three spotted hyena also arrived in November, followed by four more in December. With 15 hyenas reintroduced since 2022, these predators are helping protect the Park's water quality, control herbivore populations, and support biodiversity.
The leopard and hyena relocations are part of a four-year initiative to strengthen the park's predator population and restore ecological balance.
Partners in the collaborative effort include the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance, the Karingani Game Reserve, the Administração Nacional das Áreas de Conservação and TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG.
Learn more about the Park's conservation efforts with the leopard and hyena.
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Building bright futures, empowering young minds. | |
Community preschools graduate 193 local children, ready for primary school. | |
|
Young students from communities near Gorongosa National Park brought joy and creativity to their families, teachers and friends as they graduated from preschool in December. Equipped with the fundamentals of math, art and creativity, 193 students are now ready for primary school. During the graduation ceremonies, the students showcased their new skills through song, dance and art.
Funded by donors, more than 500 children have graduated from local preschools since the program began in 2023. Plans are now underway to reach more districts bordering the Park, giving every child in the area an opportunity to grow with dignity, self-respect, and a deep connection to their communities. Read more.
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Our Mission
To generate prosperity and protect biodiversity across 2 million hectares of Africa’s Great Rift Valley.
| | | | |
A herd of hippo in Lake Urema. Photo credit - Olivier Grunewald | |
Eyes in the sky—counting Park wildlife. | |
|
2024 aerial wildlife count reaches 110,513, setting an all-time record.
Gorongosa National Park’s 2024 aerial wildlife count confirmed the Park's incredible restoration efforts are working. The survey, conducted over 197,000 hectares between October 8 and 22, documented 110,513 large animals, including 107,765 herbivores and 2,748 crocodiles—the highest numbers ever recorded. Highlights include the largest-ever count of elephants and no signs of illegal hunting or snared animals.
Buffalo, oribi, hippo, nyala, impala, and zebra populations have grown significantly, while waterbuck remains the most abundant antelope. Populations of common reedbuck, warthog, and sable antelope have declined. These varied trends reflect the dynamics of an open, natural system where rising predation and shifting grazing competition—both within and between species—shape population direction and growth.
Gorongosa National Park also continues to serve as a refuge for vulnerable species, including 274 Ground Hornbills and 73 active vulture nests, of which 29 belong to the critically endangered White-headed Vultures.
Link to the full report.
| |
More luxury, more wilderness, all Gorongosa. | |
Sundowners - Guests feel as free as the birds seated on the edge of expansive lake Urema. | |
|
Launching in 2025: a new world-class camp, easy air access and more ways to extend your stay.
Building on a record-breaking 2024, Gorongosa Safaris has launched several major updates to its tourism offerings for 2025. Gorongosa Wild Camp is being transformed into the all-new Chicari Camp, a stunning, immersive seasonal safari experience set to open in May 2025. Alongside the flagship Muzimu Lodge, which offers a classic safari stay, Mount Gorongosa Community Camp, inspired and led by local people, will provide a novel way to connect with the park's unique biodiversity and community-driven conservation efforts.
Two enticing new offers are also available, giving guests more reasons to celebrate, extend their stay and explore Gorongosa's remarkable landscapes. Stay 7 (nights) Pay for 5; or Stay 5, Pay for 4 are available at Muzimu and Chicari camps between April 1 – November 30.
Gorongosa Safaris' partnership with the leading air charter company Safari Air includes a fixed schedule of connections to Beira international airport, providing guests with high quality, consistent and affordable air access to Gorongosa National Park. Safari Air also partners with Airlink, an award-winning airline with direct flights from Johannesburg to Beira. 2025 flight times and rates can be found here.
(Gorongosa Safaris has also partnered with Classic Portfolio, renowned for their exceptional levels of service and which now oversees sales, marketing, and reservations. Learn more.)
| |
Stays of five or more nights include a full day safari visit to Mt Gorongosa and the Pangolin Project wild feeding experience. | |
Secrets of the Rainy Season. | |
|
Planthopper in nymph (left) and in juvenile (right) stages. ©Piotr Naskrecki
The planthopper—Nature’s master of disguise.
The transformation of the planthopper (Ityraea nigrocincta) is one of the more fascinating sights a visitor can see during Gorongosa’s rainy season. A true “Nature’s Trickster,” the insect mimics leaves and vegetation, and moves like a grasshopper.
Both nymphs (juveniles) and adults are highly social, clustering together on plant stems.
During the rainy season nymphs produce long, luxurious, white wax filaments, making the entire group look like an enormous shaggy caterpillar—or perhaps a very hairy snake.
As the dry season begins, adults emerge, turning into what looks like a large single flower or a cluster grouped together on a stem or branch. Their plant-like disguise is so convincing it even fooled botanists. In 1896, J.V. Gregory described his confusion: "I therefore pushed my stick through the bush to pull the flower towards me; as soon as my stick touched it, to my great surprise, the flowers and buds jumped off in all directions." (The Great Rift Valley, 1896).
Text and photos - Piotr Naskecki.
| |
Gorongosa Park’s predator comeback. | |
Two new leopards and seven hyenas join the park’s growing wildlife population. | |
|
Gorongosa National Park’s predator population continued to grow in late 2024 with the successful addition of two leopards and seven spotted hyenas.
In November, the two leopards—a male and a female—were successfully relocated from Karingani Game Reserve to Gorongosa National Park, for a total of six released in the Park since 2020.
The three spotted hyena also arrived in November, followed by four more in December. With 15 hyenas reintroduced since 2022, these predators are helping protect the Park's water quality, control herbivore populations, and support biodiversity.
The leopard and hyena relocations are part of a four-year initiative to strengthen the park's predator population and restore ecological balance.
Partners in the collaborative effort include the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance, the Karingani Game Reserve, the Administração Nacional das Áreas de Conservação and TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG.
Learn more about the Park's conservation efforts with the leopard and hyena.
| |
Building bright futures, empowering young minds. | |
Community preschools graduate 193 local children, ready for primary school. | |
|
Young students from communities near Gorongosa National Park brought joy and creativity to their families, teachers and friends as they graduated from preschool in December. Equipped with the fundamentals of math, art and creativity, 193 students are now ready for primary school. During the graduation ceremonies, the students showcased their new skills through song, dance and art.
Funded by donors, more than 500 children have graduated from local preschools since the program began in 2023. Plans are now underway to reach more districts bordering the Park, giving every child in the area an opportunity to grow with dignity, self-respect, and a deep connection to their communities. Read more.
| |
|
Our Mission
To generate prosperity and protect biodiversity across 2 million hectares of Africa’s Great Rift Valley.
| | | | |
| Gorongosa National Park | National Road 1 | District of Gorongosa, Sofala Province, MZ | | | | |
